Tie plate



Dec. l, 1931. R. E. BELL 1,834,890

TIE PLATE Filed Nov. l0, 1930 ai f I 7...@ 6 '/m a lOl 11j z fj ,ZN VEN for? Patented Dec. 1, 1931 f RICHARD E. BEIJL, OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI TIE PLATE Application filed November 1o, 1930. serial No. 494,589.

My invention relates to tie plates such as are commonly used to support railroad rails Tie plates heretofore used have been of substantially the same thickness throughout their length although, of course, tie plates of the compression type have had Vthe bottoms thereof recessed to form compression ribs or grooves. If atie plate is made of substantially the same thickness throughout its length anunnecessary amount of metal must be included therein because the' parts of the plate carrying a very little load are made just as heavy asthe parts of the plate carrying the comparatively great load of the rail and any weight imposed thereon. Such plates are needlessly expensive in manufacture because of this unnecessary amount of metal ineluded therein. However, I have found that a tie plate embodying my invention as set forth below may be made strong and rugged and yet be much lighter and, therefore, much less expensive than the tie plates heretofore used.

The object of my invention is to provide a tie plate in which the metal is distributed in the various parts thereof according to the load carried thereby and according to the strains imposed thereon.

Vif ith this and other objects in mind several embodiments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters are used to designate similar parts: Fig. l is a section of a tie plate embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of the tie plate shown in Fig. 1 Figs. 3 and 4 are sections of modified forms; Fig. 5 is an end view of the forms shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3; and Fig. 6 is a cross section along the lines 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. l and 2 the form of tie plate 1 shown therein as embodying my invention has a pair of transversely arranged members 2 positioned so as to receive on the top part thereof the marginal surfaces of the flange of a rail to be carried by the plate. The top of theV plate l has a recessed portion 3 between transverse members 2 andrecessed `portions 5 at each end of the plate therebeyond. In the recessed portion 3 are a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing ribs 4 and in the recessed portions 5 at the ends of the plate are a plurality of reinforcing ribs 6. llhe reinforcing ribs may be of any shape, but I prefer that they have gradually sloping walls as shown in Fig. 5. I also prefer that the upper ends of the ribs 4 terminate below the parts of the transverse members 2 adapted to receive the rail flange. Likewise7 I prefer that the ribs 6 in the recessed portions 5 are reduced in height towards the ends of the plate so as to merge substantially into the bottom of the recessed portions 5, all as clearly shown in the ligures. A shoulder 7 may be provided on one of the transverse 6 members 2 to engage the edge of the rail liange and the plate may be provided with the usual spike holes 9. Each of the transverse members 2 may have a short rib 8 depending therefrom and otherwise arranged to be forced into the tie suliiciently to hold the plate'in position while the rail is being laid and spiked. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. i 8 the top of the tie plate has recessed portions only at the ends thereof beyond the transverse members 2. However, the bottom of the tie plate has a recessed portion 10 between the transverse members 2 in which is f formed a plurality of compression ribs l1 ar ranged to form compression grooves between adjacent ribs. In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 4 the tie plate has the recessed portions 3 land 5 and the reinforcing ribs 4 and 6, as shown iny Fig. l, and in addition 8- has the recessed portion l() on the bottom thereof between the transverse members 2 and recessed portions l2 at the end of the plate therebeyond. However, compression ribs ll are formed only in the recessed portion l() on the bottom of the plate.

The use and action of a tie plate embodying my invention is as follows: In each form shown the transverse members 2 extend from top to bottom of the plat/e so as to form l in eect a pair of strong bars upon which the rail is supported on the tie. These transverse members, of course, mustk be heavy enough to carry the load. When the tie plate is put into position if the short transverse f 3Q of shapes, sizesVand arrangementsrof the 2Q. the rail or the loadl imposed thereon will bey ribs 8 are provided on the bottom of the members 2 these ribsmay be forced into the tie sufficiently to-k hold the plate in position until the rail is laid andthe spikes are driven. When the rail is secured in place if the form of tie plate embodying my invention shown in Fig. 4L is used the lowerrparts of the transverse members `Qf'will initially seat on the tie, as described in my previously issued Patent No. 1,7 19,6411 dated July 2, 1929, 'but as trains .passover the rail they wili be forced into the tie and the fibres of the tie between the members will be compressed in therecessed portion 10 by the compression ribs 11.

I prefer, as stated above,` that thereinforcing ribs l in the middle recessed porV tion 3 in the top of the plate terminate below the. part of the transverse members2 which. engage therail so that none of the weight of carriedl directly by the middle of, the'plate.Y

It will be noted that inanyof the em bodiments ofmy invention shown ythe strength of the load carrying portions of the plate has not Abeen diminished, but the portions of the plate which carryonly a small load have been reduced in size so that the weight and consequent manufacturing cost of the plate are greatly reduced.

.I ido not lintend-to limit my invent-ion to the exact detailsA of structure shownin the: drawings because, .although I ,have Yshown three. embodiments 4of my invention, tie platesv in modified forms may be made in a variety parts without deviating from the spi-ritv of my invention .as'included in the claims set forth below.

' What I' :claim as new and .desire 'to secure n by Letters Patent, is;-'- f 1. Atie plate having-apart atthe top thereof :arranged and adapted-to receive-.a

railtlange, :said plate having recessed por- 'l tions `at each. end of' the top thereof beyond i saidpart anda plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing port-ion.`

`2. tie Aplate Ahaving a pair y.of transversely arranged .members .adapted to receive the ribs in `said .recessed y, marginal surfaces .of la rail flange, said-@plate having recessed portionsfin thetep V:thereof between said .members and at .each ,end .of

lparts adapted to receive the marginal surfaces of a rail flange and having their lower Vparts adapted toinit-ially seat on the tie, said 'plate having recessed portions ,at the top and bottomthereof between said transverse members and at each end ofsaid plate therebyond, a plurality of longitudinally arranged reillforcing ribs .in said recessed portions vin the top `of saidplate with'the reinforcing ribs between said members having theirl upper ends terminating below' theA parts of said transverse members .which receive the rail flange, and -a plurality of .compression ribs arranged vin the recessed portion onV the'bot# tom of -said plate between' saidV transverse members.l A Y In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification. i I,

' RICHARD E.-BELL.

jsaigdplatetherebeyond, and a plurality .ofy I longitudinally arranged reinforcing ribs in each of said recessed portions.

8. A tie plate-having a pair =of transversely arranged members extending vfrom top to bottom of said plate and having .their .xupper parts .adapted 'to receive the marginal sur;y faces ofz'a rail'flangeand said platehaving recessed :portions inboth the top and'rb'o-ttom thereof between said transverse members and at each endof ,said plate therebeyond. ,-4. A tieplatefhaving .a pair of transversely arranged members extending Yfrom top to 

